Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 66
July 7, 2017
Wombs for men
Some scientists are saying that it might be possible in a decade or so to transplant a functioning womb into a man. In the UK there is an effort to have the National Health Service sponsor the necessary research and to have taxpayers fund the operations. This would allow “transgender women who were born male” [Read More...]
Why ancient Roman concrete gets stronger while ours erodes
Buildings from ancient Rome are still standing after two thousand years and more. Whereas modern structures do well if they can last a century, with many not lasting that long. Experts have found that ancient Roman concrete actually gets stronger with time. Whereas our concrete erodes. Chemists have finally discovered why. From Scientists explain ancient Rome’s [Read More...]
July 6, 2017
Omnipotence at the price of nihilism
The bestselling book Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari argues that our species homo sapiens (“man the wise”) is evolving into homo deus (“man the god”). Our technology is progressing at such a rate that human beings will merge with our machines. The resulting cyborgs will be omnipotent. So far, this is [Read More...]
The Democrats’ dilemma
The Democrats should, theoretically, have a big opportunity running against an unpopular Republican president. But they so far are not getting much traction. One problem, according to experts both within and outside the party, is that the Democrats have placed their hopes in identity politics. But catering to specific groups–blacks, Hispanics, women, gays, etc.–puts off [Read More...]
Why the second paragraph in the Declaration of Independence?
The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was for the American colonies to formally break away from Great Britain and to form a separate country. As Abraham Lincoln observed, this could have been done without all of that material in the second paragraph about God, equality, and unalienable rights: We hold these truths to be self-evident, [Read More...]
July 5, 2017
Atheists are more closed-minded and intolerant than religious people
A study has found that atheists are more closed-minded and less tolerant of different viewpoints than religious people are. Those findings go against both conventional wisdom and atheists’ perception of themselves. Why do you think religious people are relatively open-minded and why do you think atheists are relatively closed-minded? Illustration: Atheist Atom Symbol by www.atheistatom.com (Own [Read More...]
Eliminate gender on birth certificates?
A Canadian who claims to be neither male nor female has had a baby. This individual believes that babies should have the right to choose what gender they want to be. Therefore, birth certificates should not specify a child’s gender. I thought that “gender” is cultural, while “sex” is biological. So what birth certificates record [Read More...]
Declaration of Independence vs. Progress
Our newspaper, The Daily Oklahoman, observed the 4th of July by printing excerpts from a number of speeches from the past discussing the Declaration of Independence. One of them was particularly striking, a reflection on the religious roots of the document that also takes up the question of whether or not it will become outmoded amidst [Read More...]
July 4, 2017
Happy birthday to America
One of the few things Americans can agree on these days–conservatives or liberals, Republicans or Democrats, Trump supporters or Trump resisters–is that our government is highly dysfunctional. Whether you believe we need to drain the swamp or turn the rascals out, you may well be sick of Washington, D.C., and all that it has become. [Read More...]
“God bless America” vs. “God bless the whole world”
Some people are saying we shouldn’t say or sing “God Bless America.” That is too exclusive. Rather, we should say, “God Bless the Whole World.” Matt Reynolds at Christianity Today explains why praying “God Bless America”–and the words are a prayer– is indeed appropriate. Just as you pray for your grandmother, he says, and not all [Read More...]
